Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by SuperSpy:

This is one of Thomas Creek's beers brewed under Piggly Wiggly's Pig Swig label. It may be one of Thomas Creek's other beers under a different name but I am not sure which one. I picked this up at a Piggly Wiggly in Charleston during Memorial Day weekend. It is in a brown 12oz bottle with a red checkered label that has a little pink pig trying to lick up every last drop from an upturned beer mug. I think this may be my wife's favorite beer label ever.

No freshness date on the bottle but considering that Piggly Wiggly just launched this beer it should be fairly fresh.

This beer is a very clear, dark amber. The head is thick, sticks to everything, refuses to die completely, and leaves lace up and down the glass. This is a really, really good looking beer.

The aroma is slightly malty at first with hints of toast and caramel. Good, but not very complex and not outstanding.

Great medium body with just the right amount of carbonation. A nice malty flavor with just enough hops to round it out. It has a some toast and caramel right up front then quickly balances out with a slightly herbal but otherwise rather generic bitterness. It then finishes with bready grain and more bitter flavor. They definitely went middle of the road with this but I think they're trying to appeal to a large audience.

It's a good beer for the price and I would definitely drink it again, but it's not something I plan to keep on hand regularly.

More User Reviews:

I think it's kinda cool the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain has it's own beer. It's not a bad beer either. It's certainly brewed to appeal to the masses but at least it is a real beer. Clear amber/brown in color with a small beige head with good retention. Not much going on in the aroma dept. Carmel and some toasted malts. Caramel malt flavors with just a hint of hop bitterness for flavor. Thin slick mouthfeel, sessionable beer.

Pours a burnt orange color with some red highlights in the darker reaches of the light. There is a slight head and decent lace. The aroma is of big caramel malt and a slight breadiness. Nice and inviting if not overly complex. The taste follows suit with a breadiness at the start before a big wave of sweet and caramel malt take over. A refreshing taste again decent but not very complex. The mouthfeel is moderate carbonation and very slightly creamy. Overall it was a decent beer, it is a beer you can have a six pack of and not worry about it. Worth a try.

THE POUR: When it was first poured, there was about two inches of a nice creamy head. It’s a really deep amber color.

THE AROMA:It smells similar to an English Brown Ale. There’s a pronounced maltiness with a very light hop character. It’s definitely got an English fruitiness about it.

THE TASTE: Just like it smelled, it tastes just like an English Brown Ale. It’s slightly similar to Newcastle Brown Ale. Again with the pronounced maltiness and a very light English hop character. It definitely has that characteristic English Fruitiness in the taste. They possibly used an English ale yeast, which typically imparts those fruity flavors. If I were to guess, I’d say this was the same beer as Thomas Creek’s "Appalachian Amber Ale" rebranded for Piggly Wiggly.

IS IT WORTH THE MONEY?: Definitely. $7.99 is about average for a 6pack of a decent craft beer. And this is certainly that.

VERDICT: "A" Don’t let the title, ’Store Brand’ sway your opinion before you even try it. Think of it as a really good craft beer that just happens to be cursed with the title of, "Store Brand." So if you love good beer, don’t miss out on this one. Don’t let the title, "Store Brand" turn you off.

If you’re in the coastal areas of South Carolina, find your closest Piggly Wiggly, pick up a 6 pack of Pig Tail Ale and enjoy a well crafted beer.